If there is a look that defines hip-hop, then 13-year-old David Dollar Montana has it. He talks the talk, walks the walk, even dresses the part — down to his loose-fitting Levi’s, which sag below his buttocks, exposing his underwear.
Now Dollar, as he is known around his Bowdoin-Geneva neighborhood, and other young males who let their jeans hang below their waist are the target audience for a new cable TV ad campaign that aims to get them to pull up their sagging pants or face fines or prison time.
Comments
I would be in big trouble with any law against pants hanging down, and would very likely spend the rest of my life in jail. I'm not overweight but my body "configuration" (belly and rear end...and yes, I've always worked out and I've done about 200,000 sit-ups in my life) makes it so I'm "hard to fit", pants-wise, as my dear mother would kindly put it when I was a kid. But the thing is, I think the pants-cops might have a tough time proving their case anyway, because I've gotten pretty good over the years at quickly pulling them up when I get up from a sitting position, where they inevitatbly slide down. I can see the discussion now between me and a pants-cop - Cop: your under arrest. Me: Why? Cop: your pants were hanging down. Me: No they weren't. Cop: Yes they were Me: No they weren't. and on we'd go......
....must be a little tired and sloww this morning..... just now got the joke with the title and referrence to "cracks down"....very clever, Meghan.
...and I must admit...the whole story just really "cracks" me up (sorry, couldn't resist).
Since many of today's teens can't speak proper English or fill out a job application, I don't see how walking around looking the fool will hurt their job prospects.
LOL! you certainly got that right. It is interesting that the church community is tackling this issue of sagging pants. Parenting isn't easy, especially for the many single parent families. But parading the street is not the answer to every shot child _ rather the community must never give up on their children's public speech, how their children dress in public, work ethic and demeanor.
How can anyone who is born and grows up in the NorthEast have such poor English? Our immigrant population has better English skills than most of the young Black people living in the Jamaica Plains, Roxbury, Hyde Park, or Bowdoin-Geneva neighborhood. Surely, families notice their children's lack of language skills. Parents must assist their children and the church community, or the shootings and gang warfare will continue.
Women have successfully been lowering the collars of their shirts to show clevage for many a year now. Shall we enforce the obscenity law for this too? I often find myself offended by this, as well. Someday, we will see men attempt other graceful and artistic expressions of sexuality such as women have perfected. Let's not be too hypocritical here, really?!!
Not the same thing! You are comparing apples and oranges.
Correct that: Melons and buns!
As a person who works with urban boys, I find this article funny. I am not offended by the view because these kids almost always have not one but two layers of underwear on underneath. Within reason, this middle-aged white guy is all for letting young kids of color express themselves. The only thing that does bother me about this style, and I'm surprised the article didn't mention it, is the origin of this fashion which people keep telling me has to do with prison fashion, low pants supposedly being an invite to anal sexual activity.
I myself have focused on other aspects of my kids' lives. I figure that if I help give them some respect and hope, the silly pants fashion will fix itself.
I see the droopy pants has finally reached its zenith. Now that newspapers are writing about it, tv ads are appearing trying to change it, it will be in our face for awhile. Then, when everyone finally realizes it won't be going away, it will go away because it will lose it's "shock value".
It is what children do. What is interesting is how many 20 somethings are still mentally children. No wonder all the hot chics can't find a decent guy. Ahhh, if only I were young again. . . . .
I think jail time is a little extreme. That being said, this "look" has been around way too long and has run its course. I'm all for expressing oneself, but if anything, these young men look like fools, not cool. Get a belt for crying out loud. One of the young men interviewed said it was comfortable. Are you kidding me? Everytime I see one of these kids walking around they're constantly tugging and pulling and walking like a penguin. If they only knew how foolish they looked.........
I agree with your comfort comment. The kids do indeed spent a lot of effort pulling their pants up. They've been living with the fashion so long they don't even realize how much time they have to spend adjusting themselves, heh.
interesting that Megan focused once again painting a negative picture of African American Dorchester kids. Go to a suburban mall and talk to the white kids who are 5 years behind (woops) this craze. (At least not as graphic as the "Cracks down" in the headline, but almost as silly as the whole story. ). Ever been to the suburbs Megan? Oh Wait!
This article cannot be written well unless it includes the "Pants on the Ground" Utube from American Idol. The video has almost 9 Million hits! It defines the disproval of the fad, and these kids are really late!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMwhl4IrPNc
Leave them be. They're easier to catch.
And let's not forget about 'our' women (they steal 'em)
Does this mean that kids who where sagging pants are gay? What about plumbers?
These kids find themselves the butt of many a wise crack.
Personally, it looks uncomfortable to me, and I don't know how you keep the pants from falling all the way down, but really, what's next? A fine for not having your shirt tucked in? For wearing skirts too short, or maybe for wearing leggings and a shirt, but no skirt? It's a fad, it will pass with time--or not.
Never in the history of teenagers has using hyperbolic scare-tactics caused said teenagers to change their behavior. This doesn't teach them anything but not to believe or trust adults.
And the kids - and community members - who DO buy into the bogus idea that sagging pants can result in jail time are far more likely to respond by being angry at the cops.
So, alienate the teenagers, and make life harder for the people trying to improve the relationships between urban youth and law enforcement? Nicely done, "Mental Health Alliance," nicely done.
As Stephen mentioned above, Why would anyone want to look like a prisoner? Especially a prisoner that that invites anal sexual activity?
See wkipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagging_(fashion)
I saw a kid once at Castle Island who had stolen a bicycle. He was pedalling as fast as he could to get away, but was caught by an adult who kicked him in the butt when he tried to run away. The reason he couldn't pedal as fast or run as fast: his jeans were slowing him down.
All that has to happen is have middle age white guys from the suburbs wear saggy pants. That would end black urban youths wearing saggy pants.
And why do we care? Freedom? Expression? Love the video...leave the kids alone.